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Thursday, December 29, 2011

No Stockings Were Hung

That's all of us two years ago in front of our stockinged fireplace.

Last year Christmas came only 3 months after Chase's death. We didn't put up a tree or stockings or any kind of decorations. We didn't even stay home, but left Dodge and had a different kind of Christmas in Galveston at the Marriott.

This year at the insistence of my youngest, we put up a tree, put out our nativity, and a few sparse decorations. I went to hang the stockings, but froze.

I know some people hang stockings for those who have passed away, but I couldn't. I couldn't bear seeing that hanging Christmas morning unfilled and hanging loose next to the others, nor could I not place Chase's there while I hung the rest.

So I left the stockings in the box, closed it up, and put them all back in the garage.

------------- Clover Autrey -------------

I'm a writer, mom, grandma, wife, admin during the day, and mild-mannered introvert who takes all my inner daringness out on my characters. They get to say and do the things I never would in pubic. Although those closest to me are no longer shocked at the randomness that sometimes slips out.